Nine candidates are contesting the Council of State election today to represent Western Region.
They are Nana Adu Gyamfi, owner of Hillcrest Hotel and a successful businessman in Sekondi-Takoradi; Nana Akosua Gyamfiaba II, Queen mother of Nyankrom and Acting Queen mother of Shama Traditional Council (STC); Nana Nkranomako IV, Chief of NkyekyerGrabodo in Shama; Mr. Adjei Clement, Muhammed Danjuma and Rev. Jacob Oppong Acquah.
The Council of State is established by the 1992 constitution and its main core duty is to counsel the president in the performance of his functions.
DELEGATES FOR THE ELECTION
28 delegates drawn from the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) in the region would cast the vote to decide the fate of the nine candidates. Two elected Assembly Members from each of the 14 MMDA in the region would cast the vote.
SELECTION AS DELEGATE
Hitherto, it was the duty of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDCE) to select two elected Assembly Members as delegates. However, with the absence of MMDCE in office, it has become the duty of the Mangers of the Assembly (Coordinating Directors) to select two elected Assembly Members to represent each Assembly to cast the vote.
But because the election has taken a political dimension, the ruling party plays a critical role in the selection of the delegates.
In the Western Region race for instance, The Chronicle can report that the ruling party has endorsed Nana Adu Gyamfi to contest the position.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Nana Adu Gyamfi confirmed that he has the blessing of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party in the region to contest for the position.
As a credible member of the party in good standing, Nana Adu Gyamfi believes he has what it takes to contest the election.
He told this reporter in a telephone interview that he would champion the interest of the region to get its fair share of the national cake when elected.
“I will get the president to hear our plight. We all know resources abound here and we also know about the lack of development in the region”.
Western Region, Nana Adu Gyamfi told this reporter, is ‘dead’ in terms of development and that he would ensure that it is developed “for our collective interest.”
As a Council of State Member, who would have access to the president, “I should be able to bring the woes of the region to the attention of the president. If businesses are suffering then obviously the people are also suffering”. He added that, “we will have to have the ear of the president to do something about Western region”.
As a successful businessman, Nana Adu Gyamfi told this reporter that, he would not represent the interest of the business community, but the entire region as a whole.
“If the region grows, it actually comes to help the business community. If you don’t talk, you don’t say anything, how do you get something for your region,” he asked.
Nana Adu further told this reporter that when elected, the first thing he would champion is sanitation.
“The recent outbreak of cholera in the metropolis and the region as a whole makes championing of sanitation issues very paramount”, he told this reporter.
The Queen mother of Nyankrom and acting Queenmother of Shama Traditional Council (STC), Obaahema Akosua Gyamfiaba, on her part told this reporter in a telephone interview that looking at the sensitive nature of the position, there is the need to exercise caution in counselling the president over certain decisions.
Turning her attention to the mineral resources in the region, he said “the president is my son and I am going as an elder who will give Western Region a loud voice in government, considering the mineral resource we have here”.
She also promised to support the Regional Minister, Members of Parliaments (MPs) and District Chief Executives (MMDCE) in championing development for the region.
She said, “If I have to dissent in advice to the president for a very good reason and in the interest of the Western Region, I will”.
